Fourth in the Island series of YA novels we find
FAULTS.
Tudor Robins brings us teens getting on with life
at a time of learning and personal growth. The worst of it
is that life doesn't always cooperate.
I read the first two in the series, but FAULTS introduces
brand new characters. Rand is a local lad, helping his
uncle, who can't believe his luck when a pretty girl like
Austen turns up. She's spending summer on the coastal
island off New York State, where he can make excuses to see
her. Austen is with her mom and sister Eliot, who hasn't
been well. Austen had to abandon her dream of a horse when
Eliot needed more medical care. The island summer might be
healthier for all of them, and it so happens that a
magnificent horse has been sent to board here for summer
too. Mac has been well-schooled but seems burnt out. I was
amused, wondering if Rand would even be noticed with this
kind of competition.
Jared and Meg from the earlier books are occasionally
recurring characters, but mainly we get the short scenes
from the viewpoints of Rand and Austen. Summer is busy
here, with fishing, swimming, cycling, lawn mowing, riding
and stable management. There's not much time for
socializing. Just as well, since someone manages to crash a
car. Should have stayed on the bike.
While I preferred the first two books in the series, that's
because there were more horse scenes in them, and some
young people might well enjoy FAULTS more. We see that not
everybody can be right all the time, and sometimes life has
a way of working out well, although it needs a little help
and determination.
Enjoy Tudor Robins' latest book and if you like ski stories
you might check out her exciting tale FALL LINE.
Giving up her pony didn’t make Austen’s sister better.
Sacrificing her social life hasn’t done it either. But with
her sister’s life at stake, Austen’s never good at saying
no. So, when their mom decides a move to the island is just
what Eliot needs, Austen says good-bye to her perfect summer
plans.